Out of Left Field by Ellen Klages

Out of Left Field

Ellen Klages

Penguin Young Readers Group · Paperback · February 12, 2019

A story about the fight for equal rights in America's favorite arena: the baseball field!

Buy on Amazon

We earn from qualifying purchases.

Who it’s for
A historical novel with a clear, low-key pull and room to think.
Genres
Baseball & Softball, 20th-Century U.S., Girls & Young Women
Published
Penguin Young Readers Group, February 12, 2019

Nearest books

Matched by what the books are about, then ordered by what their readers also loved.

  1. Hoops: a Graphic NovelMatt Tavares66% matchShares Girls & Young Women
  2. Maybe He Just Likes YouBarbara Dee53% match
  3. Taking Up SpaceAlyson Gerber54% match
  4. The Incredibly Human Henson BlayzeDerrick Barnes54% match
  5. Warrior on the MoundSandra W. Headen59% matchShares Baseball & Softball and 20th-Century U.S.

For older readers: The Peach Rebellion, Curveball: the Year I Lost My Grip, Field of Fantasies

Start with three books, and this one can be the first.

Members get a new edition every morning: a route out from their books to essays, research and talks, with the reason for each.

Join the waitlist

About this book

A story about the fight for equal rights in America's favorite arena: the baseball field! Every boy in the neighborhood knows Katy Gordon is their best pitcher, even though she's a girl. But when she tries out for Little League, it's a whole different story. Girls are not eligible, period. It is a boy's game and always has been. It's not fair, and Katy's going to fight back.

Continue reading

Inspired by what she's learning about civil rights in school, she sets out to prove that she's not the only girl who plays baseball. With the help of friendly librarians and some tenacious research skills, Katy discovers the forgotten history of female ball players. Why does no one know about them? Where are they now? And how can one ten-year-old change people’s minds about what girls can do? Set in 1957—the world of Sputnik and Leave It to Beaver, saddle shoes and "Heartbreak Hotel"—Out of Left Field is both a detailed picture of a fascinating historic period and a timelessly inspiring story about standing up for equality at any age.

Why This Clicks

A historical novel with a clear, low-key pull and room to think.

Come here for

  • girls, sports, and history in one clean line
  • a sustained, quietly observant read

Expect

  • cultural context, not just plot
  • an immersive, straightforward narrative

Where it sits

Baseball & Softball83%
Girls & Young Women80%
20th-Century U.S.65%

Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.

Publisher categories

  • Girls & Young Women
  • 20th-Century U.S.
  • Baseball & Softball
Authors
Ellen Klages
Publisher
Penguin Young Readers Group
Published
February 12, 2019
Format
Paperback
Reading lane
Girls & Young Women